Children usually look for any excuse to ride their bicycles during the summer. It’s a fun children activity that is good for them, too. While you’re planning your 4th of July festivities, why not organize a 4th of July bike parade in your neighborhood? It will give those in your neighborhood an opportunity to show off their bikes, celebrate the holiday, and have fun at the same time!

The bike parade doesn’t have to be limited to children; adults can and probably should participate as well. Here’s what you’ll want to do to plan and host your own neighborhood bike parade.

1. Gather the neighborhood together to discuss your idea and see how many people are interested in participating. After you know who will be involved, you can determine the parade route through your neighborhood. Don’t make it too long that little children won’t be able to participate, but don’t make it too short that adults and older teens won’t be interested.

2. Announce the event in your area at local businesses. Create colorful flyers with the important information – date, time, and place. You may want to include a tear-off with your telephone number so others in your area can contact you if they need more information.

3. Ask the children to decorate their bicycles, tricycles, wagons, or scooters with streamers. Leaving the type of transportation open will allow more people to join in the fun. The only limitations necessary are that the decorations not be dangerous such as things poking off of a bike that a child might be injured on. Otherwise, the sky is the limit as far as the decorations go.

4. Allow the children, and adults too, to dress up in patriotic clothing or have a face painting area set up at the beginning of the route so those interested can have their faces painted with red, white, and blue flags, stars, and Uncle Sam hats.

5. Plan to arrive early on the day of the parade. Mark off the route and be ready with other adults to help you. Take your time getting everyone arranged so the parade will be safe (adults or teens at the front and back to keep an eye on the children).

6. Choose a teen or adult to lead the parade because they’ll need to carry the music. Remind the participants to stay together rather than running off on their own. This is a parade, not a race, so it’s important that the parade go slowly enough for young children but quick enough for older children not to become too impatient.

7. Ask those viewing the parade to take pictures to remember the day by. You may even want to call the local newspaper to come and cover the parade.

8. At the end of the parade, you can have refreshments or a picnic for everyone to enjoy together.

July 4th is a great day in the United States’ history. You can organize a 4th of July bike parade for your children and others to enjoy. They can show of their bikes and have a great time celebrating the day. If it’s a success, you may want to consider making the bike parade a yearly event.

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Children may not know the story behind the Statue of Liberty. So now that the 4th of July is nearing, sharing its history may be one of the best relevant children activities you can do.

The United States has many symbols – the Bald Eagle, Mount Rushmore, and others – but one that stands out for those coming to the United States from another country is the Statue of Liberty. In fact, this one statue is a monument to freedom easily recognizable all over the world.

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor, came up with the idea for the Statue of Liberty (also known as Liberty Enlightening the World) while he was visiting Egypt. Knowing how large he wanted the statue to be, he enlisted the help of Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower to help him create the structure of the statue. The statue was given to the United States in 1886 by the people of France in a gesture of friendship.

The statue of Lady Liberty, constructed entirely in France, traveled by boat from France to the New York harbor taking over a year for it to be reassembled. Standing in the New York Harbor welcoming immigrants, visitors, and those returning to the US after travel abroad, the statue is over 305 feet tall, including the pedestal. The statue is one of the first items visible when flying into New York.

The Statue of Liberty is a robed woman, believed to be Libertas, the ancient Roman goddess of freedom from slavery, oppression, and tyranny. She appears to be stepping forward with her left foot stepping on broken shackles. She holds a raised torch in one hand, symbolizing enlightenment. The tablet made of stone in her left hand represents knowledge.

The statue is made of steel undergirding with a copper layer on the outside; she now appears green due to oxidation. She wears a tiara with seven points. Many experts agree that the points represent the seven continents and seas. Inside the statue is the poem by Emma Lazarus entitled The New Colossus engraved on a bronze plaque which was added in 1903.

How did the statue become associated with freedom? Many historians credit this to the number of immigrants, counting in the millions over the years, who have come to the United States to find a new life. Many arrived on the shores of America fleeing oppression in their own homeland, so it’s no wonder the Statue of Liberty is seen as a symbol of freedom.

If you have never seen the Statue of Liberty in person, and you’re traveling to France, you can see a smaller version located in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. Another small model was given to Maceio, a city in the northwest of Brazil. Other versions can be found in locations around the United States and the world.

The Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of freedom for well over 100 years. If you have the opportunity, going to see it in person can be an event that you’ll remember for years to come. Who knows, you may have had relatives who immigrated to the United States and viewed the statue with fresh eyes and a heart yearning for freedom.

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Children are used to seeing the American flag flying over government buildings and in their classrooms. They may not, however, understand the significance of the different parts of the flag. Do they know what the colors of our flag mean? This is an important aspect of child education so make sure to tell them.

When the flag was originally created, the colors on it held no significance. However, when the Continental Congress adopted the Great Seal, the colors did have particular meanings. Those colors and their meanings were transferred to the Stars and Stripes at a later date, although no one knows exactly when.

* Red – There is some disagreement about what this color represents on the American flag. Originally the color was used on the Great Seal and was to represent hardiness and valor. Some have indicated that the color is indicative of the blood of the patriots who fought and died helping to make our country free and are still doing so.

* White – This color has always signified purity and innocence.

* Blue – Vigilance, perseverance and justice are what this color symbolizes.

The thirteen stripes are purported to represent the thirteen original colonies of the United States. The fifty stars are said to represent each of the fifty states that make up this great country.

If your children don’t know the story behind the flag, you may want to take time this year to teach them. Be sure to include the proper handling of the flag in a respectful manner.

1. Flags are not to be displayed at night unless they are fully illuminated.

2. The flag should not be flown in inclement weather.

3. The flag is not to be allowed to touch the ground. If it does, the flag should be properly disposed of.

4. Flags flown at half-staff are first hoisted to the top of the flag pole and then lowered. Normally you will see flags at half-staff, or half-mast, on governmental buildings only. Flags at half-staff signify the death of a former President. From sunrise to sunset they are placed at half-staff on May 15 for Peace Officers Memorial Day, from sunrise until noon on Memorial Day, from sunrise to sunset on September 11 which has been declared as Patriot Day, during October 5 to 11 for Fire Prevention Week, and then again on December 7 for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

While the President of the United States cannot require the citizens of the country to fly their personal flags at half-staff, he may request that they join the government in flying them in that manner. The President may, at his discretion, declare other days as being recognized by flying the flag at this position.

Perhaps you don’t know, or have forgotten the significance of the Stars and Stripes and its history. You may not be aware that the flag has be changed twenty-four times during is history. You can learn more about the flag’s history by visiting the official website about the American flag, www.USflag.org.

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Each country in the world more than likely has a statement of allegiance that their citizens know and recite. It’s no different in the United States where the Pledge of Allegiance has been spoken in classrooms around the country since 1892. Many people, especially children, however, don’t know the history behind the Pledge; here’s a way to change that and enrich child education:

The Pledge of Allegiance is an oath that American citizens make to assert their loyalty to the country. It has been quoted at the beginning of the school day as well as during many public events. Each day, the U.S. Congress opens its session by reciting the Pledge. When reciting the Pledge, one would stand at attention facing the flag and place their right hand over their heart. If the person is a member of the military, they are allowed to leave their hats on and salute the flag.

Written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy, a Baptist minister, the Pledge of Allegiance was first printed in the children’s magazine The Youth’s Companion. The Pledge was written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. The original Pledge, however, read differently: “I Pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

By October 1892, President Benjamin Harrison made the proclamation that the Pledge would be recited during Columbus Day observances. Over the years, however, changes have been made to the Pledge. The first major change was from “my Flag” to “the Flag of the United States” in 1923. The phrase “of America” was added a year later. On June 22, 1942, the Pledge was declared the national pledge by the U.S. Congress.

The phrase “under God” was added originally to the Pledge in 1951 by the Knights of Columbus, pulling the phrase from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. The addition of this phrase to the national pledge, however, took considerably longer. Following a sermon by Reverend George M. Docherty, in 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower agreed that “under God” should be a part of the Pledge to help keep the United States humble despite its strength.

In recent years, some people have been trying to get the phrase “under God” taken back out of the Pledge. Their rationale is that having this phrase in the Pledge violates the protection in the Constitution about the establishment of religion.

In effect, when one pledges allegiance they are promising their loyalty to the ideals represented by the flag, loyalty to each of the states in the country, as well as to the government which unites all of us. The current Pledge of Allegiance is recited at the beginning of school and also during sports events around the country. It currently reads: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

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The Star Spangled Banner talks about the “rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air.” Thankfully, the only rockets and bombs that can be found on the Fourth of July are fireworks and patriotic decorations. If your child wants rockets this July 4th, let them make their own that they can enjoy after the holiday has passed through these very creative children activities.

The 4th of July is a wonderful time to allow your children to make patriotic crafts. One of the easiest they can try, even if they are very young, is making paper rockets. They’re a quick and easy craft they can make with minimal adult supervision.

These are the items you’ll need to have available for your children to make 4th of July rockets:

- Empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes, depending upon how large they want their rocket to be
- Pre-cut colored paper - construction paper, colored printer paper, and patriotic wrapping paper will all work
- Cellophane tape or a glue stick
- Markers and stickers
- Gift wrap ribbon

If you’re using solid colored paper, your child will definitely want to decorate the paper before constructing their rocket. Be sure they know which part of the design is covered up when the paper is glued or taped. When the decorations are complete, wrap the paper around the tube and tape it in place.

Draw a 3-inch circle on sheet of paper and cut it out. Carefully cut from one edge to the center. Pull one side of the circle behind the other creating a cone shape. Tape this to hold its shape and then attach it to the end of the tube using two or three pieces of tape.

Cut triangles out to use as fins. Tape three of these onto the end without the cone. If the cone and fins are level, the finished rocket will be able to stand. Fins that extend past the end of the rocket will look cool, but they probably won’t allow the rocket to stand. They can be used, however, if your child intends to hang it from the ceiling.

To give the illusion that the rocket is blazing through the sky, your child could tape pieces of red, orange, or white ribbon to the open end of the rocket. They can hang the rocket from the ceiling using loops of fishing line.

Using glow-in-the-dark stickers on their rocket would help them see their rocket in the dark. Your child may find making 4th of July rockets may be so much fun they’ll want to create more than one. Before you know it, they may have rockets hanging all over the ceiling. Of course, as long as there aren’t actual explosions, you should be fine.

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One of the most important documents in the United States is the Declaration of Independence. However, so much about this document is unknown to a vast majority of the population. Public schools don’t stress its importance like they used to, so many people know very little about it. Why not test your family’s knowledge with this children activity? Find out if they know who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Of course, before you can create a quiz or test to find out how much your family knows about the Declaration of Independence, you’ll want to learn all you can about it. The easiest way to learn is by going online and finding a copy of the document. You may also be able to find a copy in your local public library.

Take a close look at the document. Because it was handwritten, and signed by men of varying ages, some of the signatures may not be legible. Finding an online version of the document will give you a typed version to look at so you can understand the language of the document itself as well as getting help to read the signatures.

The following are some questions (with the answers) that you may want to ask. Since the answers are given, you will be able to determine how much your family knows about this important document and those that were instrumental in its existence.

Q: How many men signed the Declaration of Independence?
A: A total of 56 men signed the Declaration.

Q: Which colonies were represented by those who signed it?
A: All 13 of the original colonies had representatives to sign the Declaration, with Pennsylvania having the most delegates at 9.

Q: How many signers of the Declaration of Independence went on to hold national political offices in the fledgling country?
A: Two became President of the United States (Thomas Jefferson and John Adams) while three were Vice Presidents (Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Elbridge Gerry). Two signers (John Adams and Benjamin Harrison) had sons that later became President.

Q: How many signers served their country in another political capacity?
A: 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence became governors of their respective states. 18 served in their state legislatures. 16 became state and federal judges following the Revolutionary War. Seven men went on to become members of the United States House of Representatives while six became United States Senators. Two men (James Wilson and Samuel Chase) were among the first Justices of the United States Supreme Court.

Q: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
A: Thomas Jefferson, from Virginia, was selected to draft the Declaration and did so in 17 days.

Q: Which signer of the Declaration of Independence lived the longest?
A: Charles Carroll of Maryland died in 1832 at the age of 95.

Q: Was the Declaration of Independence actually signed on July 4, 1776?
A: No, the document was not signed until August 1, although the Congress did approve the wording of the document on July 4.

Q: Whose signature is the most easily recognizable?
A: John Hancock’s signature is nearly five inches long and was supposedly written large so King George could read it.

As citizens of the United States of America, we owe the men who signed the Declaration of Independence a debt of gratitude. After testing your family’s knowledge about the document, you may want to find a copy of it and try to memorize portions of it along with some of the names of the men who signed it.

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There’s no doubt that the United States of America has changed over the course of its history. The same can be said of the flags for America. Looking at their history, you can see how the flags have been modified over the years. This can be an interesting piece of knowledge which you can contribute to child education.

In the past, elementary school students were told that Betsy Ross was commissioned to create the first American flag during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, this story is considered to be a legend as it cannot be proven. Some experts believe that Francis Hopkins is a more likely candidate as the designer. No matter who the original designer of the flag, it has become an easily recognizable symbol of the United States of America.

While the new country was still new, the Grand Union flag was adopted by the Continental Congress of 1775, originally flown on the colonial fleet. It wasn’t flown on land until January 1776 by General George Washington. The flag included the Union Jack in the upper left corner. At this time, the colonists were still trying to assert their rights as British citizens. Along with the Union Jack, the flag had thirteen red and white stripes which represented each of the original thirteen colonies.

The Union Jack, however, was removed a year later as the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes flag to commemorate the new nation. The date, June 14, has been established as Flag Day. The flag incorporated the original thirteen red and white stripes, but added a blue field with thirteen stars in a circle.

Over time, each new flag maker created flags to meet their own ideas; therefore, the flag of the United States of America has changed 24 times in 135 years. Even though the look of the older flags differ from the current flag, each one is considered to be a valid choice and each is expected to be honored and respected the same as the current version of “Old Glory.”

As new states were added to the country, the initial idea was to add stripes to the flag, but that idea wasn’t practical. Instead, they decided to add a star for each new state as it was admitted into the Union. The addition of stars to the flag was completed in 1960 with the addition of the fiftieth star for the state of Hawaii. Should another state be added, they would continue the practice of adding a new star with each additional state.

Much in the same way as the Statue of Liberty and the White House, the flag of the United States is easily recognizable by those not from this country. The flag has changed over the years but the devotion of the people under this flag continues. The history is varied but the sentiment elicited by the flag continues to this day.

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Have some creative cooking impulses inside? Well this recipe for kids just might be for you. Try these 4th of July corn muffins to satisfy the sweet cravings of your children. It’s fairly easy to do.

Ingredients:
(makes 12 muffins)
1 can (14.5oz) creamed corn
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
8 tbsp butter, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp salt

Method:
Preheat oven to 450F and heat up a 12-cup muffin tin in the hot oven while making the muffin mix.

In a medium saucepan, heat the creamed corn and then stir in 1 cup of the cornmeal. The mixture should be very thick and stiff. Whisk in the buttermilk, then add the eggs. Again, whisk thoroughly, then add the melted butter.

In a medium bowl, mix the remaining cornmeal with the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir carefully until just combined.

Take the muffin tin out of the oven and either use muffin cases or lightly grease the tin. Fill the muffin mix evenly into the muffin cups and bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown.

Remove muffins and place on a wire rack to cool.

Serve with any soup or a delicious chili.

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This Western holiday is coming up so what better way to celebrate the 4th of July by rolling off an early Thanksgiving treat: turkey! In this recipe for kids entitled 4th of July Turkey Chili, I’m sure your child will keep coming back for more.

Ingredients:
1 can (14.5oz) chopped tomatoes
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 carrot, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
¼ cup white wine
1.5 pounds ground turkey (you can also use ground beef if you prefer)
1 package (1.25oz) chili seasoning mix
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup green bell pepper, chopped
¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/3 cup bottled steak sauce
5 slices bacon
1 tsp ground cumin
1 can (15oz) kidney beans, drained
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Method:
Combine tomatoes, tomato paste, carrot, onion, celery, pepper flakes, peppers, steak sauce and wine in a large heavy pot and simmer over low heat.

In a separately large frying pan cook the bacon slices until crisp and put on paper towels to drain. Cook the ground turkey in the bacon drippings until browned. Then drain. Stir the chili seasoning into the ground turkey.

Add the turkey to the tomato mixture and add the cumin and bacon. Keep simmering until the vegetables are tender. Then stir in beans, cilantro and parsley. Heat through and season well.

Serve immediately with grated cheese and crusty bread.

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The Fourth of July has always been about fireworks.  Cities and towns across America host July Fourth displays that are attended by millions every year. However, some people prefer to have a more hands-on approach to fireworks. It is important to prioritize child safety by not letting your child near these fireworks.

Fireworks are the creation of the ancient Chinese who are believed to have developed as early as 581 AD after they discovered how to make gunpowder. Since the chemicals and powder are explosive, the danger of injury has always been associated with fireworks, which are still produced in China to a great degree.

Children are enamored with fireworks. They love to watch them and will often try to shoot them off to have their own fireworks display. The problem, however, is that they are dangerous - especially when handled or used improperly.

- Fireworks are made from flammable materials and explosives. Due to this fact, thousands of people and pets are injured each year, some even requiring amputation. For fireworks to be safely enjoyed, they should be used only by trained professionals.

- Fireworks can cause fires and this is one of the biggest reasons for not allowing children access to them. Children can either be burned while trying to light the firework or they can accidentally catch something around them on fire.

- Fireworks should not be lit while indoors or in dry grassy areas.

- Even fireworks that don’t explode can be hazardous to children’s health. Sparklers can become so hot that after they’ve been used they can still cause first, second, and third degree burns if they’re stepped on. To avoid this problem, if you feel you must use fireworks around children, you’ll want to have an empty metal trashcan where all sparklers can be disposed after the sparks stop.

People are so used to having fireworks readily available to them that they may not pay attention to how dangerous they can be. Each year a third of all injuries due to fireworks happen to children under the age of fifteen, most of those injuries occurring to boys. Firecrackers are the worst offenders for causing injuries, followed by sparklers.

To help you keep your children safe, and still enjoy the beauty of fireworks, the simplest thing you can do is let the professionals do it. Not only can you avoid injuries, you’ll also see a much better fireworks display. And, since professional fireworks shows are free to the public, you’ll save yourself quite a bit of money. This really is the best way to enjoy fireworks and not have to worry about keeping your children safe.

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